Roller copying-machine



E. LICH TENSTEIN. ROLLER COPYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-7| 1920.

Patented May 17, 1921. V SSHEETS-SHEET l- Z7 M; Layawa & ,LHML

E. LICHTENSTEIN.

ROLLER COPYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-7, 1520.

1,378,697.. Patented y 17, 1921.

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0. m an] ll'azfex sfez'n/ E. LICHT ENSTEIN. ROLLER COPYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7. 1920..

71,378,697. v Patented May 17,1921.

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I v APPLICATION FILED AUG-7| 1'9 20- 1,378,697.

' E'. LICHTENSTEIN. ROLLER COPYING MIACHIINE.

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Patented May 17,1921.

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57mm; A da 2nd; y- LMQQ A 177. klnfar osirsn STATES EDMUND LICHTENSTEIN, BERLIN, GERMANY.

ROLLER COPYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Applicationfiled August 7, 1920. Serial No. 402,035.

either to provide a special arrangement,

such as a clamping rail orthe like, for passing the paper through the aforesaid slot, or it was necessary to thread thepaper by hand between the working rollers which, apart from being a cumbersome undertaking, easily gives rise to the operator oi the machine injuring his hands on the knives.

One of the objects of the invention is to overcome this drawback by mounting the displaceable roller so as to be movable in the direction of the supply roller to such an extent, as to enable the web of paper being passed between the working rollers and over the movable roller without necessitating the operator putting his hand between the said rollers. On its return motion the displaceable roller guides the paper in known man nor into contact with the other two working rollers.

A further object of the invention from which great advantages result, is to so arrange the displaceable roller, as to enable amo to move right into the path of the paper which is fed from the supply roller, or even behind this path, so that it need not be touched at all. In a machine according to the invention the movement preparatory to threading the copying paper is preterably a bodily displacement instead of a rotation, which results in certain advantages being obtained as will be more fully explained in the course of this specification.

In many cases it will be. desirable, under the considerations mentioned, to make use of the inverse kinetic properties oi the machine and to so move the paper supply roll for the purpose oi threading the paper, that its free end comes more or less direct above ing a satisfactory cutting of the paper largely depends.

The accompanying drawings diagrammatically illustrate several modifications of the invention by way of example.

Figure 1 shows one form of the invention in working position,

Fig. 2 illustrates the mode of introducing the copying paper,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 4 shows a third modification,

Fig. 5 shows a fourth modification in working position,

Fig. 6 illustrates the same machine during the insertion of the copying paper,

Fig. 7 illustrates a machine in working position in which the roller is displaceable for the purpose of inserting the paper,

Fig. 8 shows the same machine preparatory to the insertion of the said paper,

Fig. 9 illustrates a further improved form, V

Fig. 10 shows the feed roller of still another modification of the invention in its working position, while Fig. 11 illustrates the most essential parts of a machine in which this arrangement is employed, in the action of threading the paper,

Figs. 12 to 15 diagrammatically illustrate a special modification in four different po sitions and show a machine having a displaceable roller,

Fig. 16 shows in side elevation a machine having a pivotally mounted supply roller; the machine being in working position, while in Fig. 17 it is shown in the position of threading the paper,

Fig. 18 is the side elevation of a machine having a longitudinally slidable supply roller; said machine being shown in its working position, and in Fig. 19 it is shown in its paper inserting position.

heterring in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, the web of copying paper 1 is fed from the supply roll through the water tank 3 and over the wet rollers 1 between the squeezing roller 5 and the main roller 6, whereatter it passes between the latter and the copying roller 7, then over the guide bar 56, between the transport rollers 8, 9, whence it is finally passed between the cutting knives 10 and 11.

The rollers 2, 7 and 8 are stationary ournaled in the frame of the machine while the roller 5 is carried by a lever 12 which is placed under the action of a suitable tensioning device efi ecting a mutual pressure between the working rollers 5, 6 and 7, and which may consist of an eccentric or any other known form of tensioning means.

The rollers 6 and 9 are journaled in checks or levers 13 pivoted around the shaft 1 1 of the machine frame and having an extension 15 for the reception of the wet rollers 4;.

An oscillating lever 18 is provided with a handle 17 and can be turned about a fixed pivot in the frame of the machine, the' said lever being provided with a cam 19. The lever 18 is adapted to move between two stops 20 and 21 of a toothed segment 22 which also turns on the pivot 16 and meshes with a pinion 23 keyed to the shaft 1 1.

The water tank 3 is carried by the links 2 1 at the end of levers 25 which pivot about fixed pins 26. The levers 25 in their turn and in the position of Fig. 1 are held by means or" links 27, which are supported on the downwardly curved edge 29 of the cheeks 13 by means of their pins 28. (See also Fig. 2.)

The said cheeks are provided with a pin 30 which, in the position of Fig. 1 is adapted to rest in the slot 31 (see Fig. 2) of a locking lever 32 pivotally arranged on a fixed pin 33. The said slot 31 is closed at its top by a projecting nose 3/1 and at its bottom by a short arm 35.

When the machine is in the position no cording to Fig. 1 and the copying paper 1 is to be inserted between the rollers, for example in order to start a new supply roll, the handle 17 and lever 18 are swung downwardly about their pivot 16. In doing this, the steep flank of cam 19 first of all abuts against the nose of the catch 32 moving same toward the left so as to release the locking pin 30. Thereupon the lever 18 strikes against the abutment 20 of the toothed segment 21, which so far has been standing still and causes same to join in the movement toward the left. The segment 22 on its part rotates the pinion 23, whose pivot is in fixed relation to the cheeks 13. The latter are thus rotated about their pivot 141 through an angle of about 180 from the position of Fig. 1 into the position shown in Fig. 2; the main roller 6 thereby moving toward the supply roller 2. This movement is of such an extent, that when the supply roll is now being unwound, the

free end of the paper web 1, which issues vertically from the said roll, so passes the roller 6, that the latter takes a position behind the said web of paper. Roller 9 and the knife 11 are now similarly positioned behind the free end of said web of paper.

During the first downwardly directed part of the oscillatory movement of the cheeks 13 and the supporting lever 25 for the water tank 3, which rest their pins 28 upon the edge 2%) are being lowered and in consequence also lower the said water tank along the guide slots 36 in the frame of the machine and right down to the bottom of the said slots, thus removing the water tank out of the path of the cheeks 13 and connected parts. The said cheeks thereupon rotate without further afiiecting the water tank into the position of Fig. 2 and the wet rollers a move in counter-clockwise direction toward the top. After a piece of suliicient length having been unwound inthe aforesaid manner from the supply roll 2 the lever 18 is moved back in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. As soon as the cam 19 has hereby passed the nose 34: of the catch32, the latter moves back into its locking position according to Fig. 1. On its movement b ing continued, lever 18 strikes against the stop 21 of the so far unmoved segment and on the movement being still further continued, rotates same inthe sense indicatedby the arrow. The segment now rotates pinion 23 and thereby the cheeks 13 in the direction of the corresponding arrow in Fig. 2. The main roller 6 now swinging backward seizes the freely suspended end of the paper web 1 and carries it upward against the auxiliary rollers 5 and 7. In the same way the guide bar 56, roller 9 and the cutting knife 11 come into contact with the paper from the rear and move same from the position of Fig. 2 into that of Fig. 1, without it being necessary for the operator to pass his hand or some special device in between the working rollers. As soon as the curved edges 29 have contacted with the pins 28 on the cheeks swinging backward the water tank 3 is lifted into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the two rollers 4 are swung down in clockwise direction against the web of paper 1, so that the machine is now ready for use.

According to the modification shown in Fig. 3, the free end 1 of the paper web issuing from the supply roll 2 does not fall directly through an open gap, but the movable roller rests, after its being oscillated, against one of the counter-rollers, for example against the auxiliary roller. VQne of the rollers may be rotatable by means of a crank 37, so that both rollers 5 and 6 act as transport rollers to unwind the paper Y from the supply roll 2.

rotation of the roller 6 also rotates the supply roll 2 and thereby unwinds the paper. The modifications ELCCOIdlIl to F1 s..5

e e and 6 chffer from those of Figs. 1 and 2 mainly in that for the purpose of oscillatingthe movable main roller, one of the auxiliary rollers must first be displaced. As in the former example, the supply roller 2 and the copyingroller 5 are also journaled in the frame of the machine, while the auxiliary roller 7 is pivoted by means of the lever 12 about the axis 6 of roller 5. Also in this case the requisite working pressure between the rollers 5, 6 and? is exerted by some known form of automatic tensioning device, such as an eccentric or 'thelike.

The main roller 6 is again journaled in the cheeks or levers 13 which are piv-otally carried by the shaft 14. Oscillation of this lever iseifected by a hand lever 18, which turns on a pivot 16 and is provided with a knob 17. As in the previous example the lever 18 extends beyond its pivot 16 so as to form a short arm 38. The free end of the latter is connected by means of a link 39 to the end of one arm of a double-arm lever 40, which is adapted to rock about the shaft 14, while its other arm carries a roller 41 which is in contact with a lever-arm 42 integral with lever 12. The double-arm lever 40 is connected with the lever 13 so as to allow of a certain amount of lost motion, for example by having a pin 400 moving in a slot 401 of the hub of said lever 13. Lever-arm 42 is connected by means of a link 43 to the one end of a bell-cranklever 44, 45, pivotally mounted on a fixed pin 46 and supporting with its free end a platform 47 arranged to carry the water tank 3. At its other end the said platform is supported by a link 48 turning on a pin 49 and forming together with the lever-arm 42 and the part 47 a parallelogram of levers. Lever 13 is provided. with a pin 50 on which the pinion 51 is rotatably mounted. This pinion meshes at one side with a fixed'segment 52 and at the other side with a toothed wheel 53, which is also rotatably' carried by apin 54 on lever 1.3 and is rigidly connected with a lever 55 at the end of which the displaceable transport roller 9 and the guide roller 56,are mounted, as well as the movable cutting knife 11. Lever 13 is in fixed connection with a toothed segment 57, which is adapted to mesh with a pinion 58 journaled in the frame of the machine. The latter is adapted to mesh with a rack 59 so as to be able to move in a vertical direction and carrying at its top end the wet rollers 4. A connecting rod 60 is pivoted with its one end to the pin 54 and with its other end to thewater tank 3.

The insertion of the paper is effected in the following manner:

Considering the working position of the machine as shown in Fig. 5, the lever 18 is turned by means of the knob 17 in anticlockwise direction as indicated by the an row, thereby turning the roller 41 in the direction of its arrow (Fig. 5) {by means of levers 38, 39 and 40, so that the lever-arm 42 can swingunder the action of a weight or a spring, thus causing the lever 12 and thereby the roller 7 to swing upwardly in the position shown in Fig. 6. During this movement of the lever 42 the water tank'3 is simultaneously lowered by the amount indicated by the letter a in Fig. 5 and into the position of Fig. 6. This is effected by the arrangement of levers 43, 45, 47 48. For the sake of clearness, only a portion, that is to say, the platform 47 is indicated in its lowest position in Fig. 5. In this lowermost position of the water tank 3 the rollers 4 are located above the edge thereof, so that they-will not hinder the horizontal sliding-out movement of the said water tank now taking place toward the left into the position shown in. Fig. 6. This movement of the water tank is ef' fected by the connecting rods 60, which are in connection with the lever 13.

During the aforesaid proceedings the lever 13 has not yet turned owing to its being coupled to the lever 40 with a certain amount of play. However, as soon as the aforesaid actions have'taken place, the continued rotation of the crank .18 causes the lever 13 to join in the movement counterclockwise direction and to move into the positionof Fig. 6. During'this movement the pinion 51 meshes with the'fixed segment 52, thereby rotating the toothed wheel 53 and consequently the lever 55, which is rigid therewith. so that the cutting knife 11 as well as the rollers 9 and 56 swing about their pivot 54in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 5 and take a position behind the end of the paper web as issuing from the supply roll 2, or behind a line vertically tangential to the inner circumference of this roll of paper (Fig. 6). Owing to the bodily movement of these parts, the path through which they move is really not a circle, but a com-' bined curve. p

The rotation of the lever 13 causes by means of the segment57, which is-rigidly connected therewith. the rotation of the sta tionary mounted pinion 58, whereby the rack 59 and in consequence also the rollers 4 are lifted into the position shown in Fig. 6. In this way the wet rollers 4 are moved out of the path of the main roller'6 when the latter moves toward the left.

On the web of paper now being unwound for a sufficient part of its length, the machine canbe made ready for use without some special device between the working rollers, by simply returning the crank 17, 18. By this return motion of the crank the main roller 6 takes the web of paper ugward and restssame onto the auxiliary rollers 5 and 7. At the same time the water tank 3 is moved along the track 4.7 toward the right, while the downwardly moving wet rollers at take the paper and dip it into the renewedly rising water tank.

Simultaneously with this taking place, the guide roller 56, which now moves up again in the direction indicated by its arrow in Fig. 6, encounters the web of paper from behind and leads the free end of same together with the roller 9 in between the rollers 8, 9 and the cutting edges 10 and 11. As soon as the main roller has resumed the position shown in Fig. 4, the lever 42 is rocked toward the right by the roller 41, whereby the roller 7 becomes depressed, in the sense of the arrow. shown in Fig. 6, into the position of Fig. 5, in which position it prevents a rocking of the main roller 6.

As said before, the idea governing the invention lies in the introduction of the web of copying paper through the working rollers without the necessity of putting ones hand or some special device which might otherwise be provided for this purpose, between the working parts of the machine. It is evident, that this purpose will also be attained when the bodily displaceable roller is not moved absolutely behind the payingout end of the paper, but only into such proximity of this preferred end position,

that by turning the displaceable roller or.

by a simple manipulation without putting ones hand between the working rollers or the cutting knives it is brought into position in front of the said roller. This position, by returning the displaceable roller, is preparatory for the insertion of the paper.

A machine according to the invention is especially useful for being operated by maimed persons who are denied the full useof their limbs.

It might be argued against the aforesaid constructions, that the design of themachine is comparatively complicated in' that for the purpose of inserting the paper a pronounced displacement in height of some of the heavy parts of the machine is required, and that apart from the awkwardness of manipulatiomthere might be the danger of the moving masses dropping down or arriving with too great a force in their final position, whereby distortions or even breakages may bethe result. This, however, can easily be avoided by the simple employment of a more or less complicated form of positive drive.

In the construction according to Figs. 7 to 11, which willnow be described, these disadvantages are overcome by the movement of the displaceable roller and of the parts connected therewith, i. e., the guide roller for the knives andthe knives themselves, being eifected in a transverse direction.

The web of paper 1 passes, when the ma chine is ready for use (Fig. 7) from the supply roll 2 over the wet roller 4 which is immersed in the water tank 3, and between the working rollers 5, 6 and 7, after which it runs between the transport rollers8, 9 and the cutting knives 10 and 11. I

According to this form of construction, the lever 18 carrying the displaceable main roller 6 is movable in horizontal direction by means of its handle 17, so that for the purpose of introducing the copying paper, the roller 6 together with the transport roller 9 and the knife edge 11 may be withdrawn into the position indicated in Fig. 8. An abutment edge 70, which is also provided on the lever 18, hereby strikes against a pawl 71 arranged on the supporting lever 15 of the wet roller 4, which pawl, on the continued movement of the slide 18, turns underneath the edge 70, thereby raising the wet roller 1 and maintaining it in its elevated position as shown in Fig. 8.

In the position according to Fig. 8, the

parts 6, 9 and 11 are positioned behind the free end of the paper which is vertically SUSPQIIClH from the supply roll 2. When now the latter is unwound for a certain part of its length, the free end 1 of the copying paper passes in the manner indicated in Fig. 8 in front of the said parts 6, 9 and 11, that is to say, it is introduced between the stationary working rollers 5, 7 and the displaceable roller 6, further between the stationary transport roller 8 and the displaceable transport roller 9, as also between the stationary knife 10 and the displaceable knife 11, wherebythe action of inserting the paper is completed. By returning now the slide 18 into the position shown in Fig. 7, the paper will be carried into con tact with the working rollers 5 and 7, the transport roller 8 and against the knife 10 without the employment of any further subsidiary devices. This having been effected, and after-the roller 6 is preferably automatically pressed against the rollers 5 and '7, the machine will be ready for use.

Since during the return motion of the parts from the position of Fig. 8 into that according to Fig. 7, the copying paper rests for the one part only loosely upon the displaceable main roller 6 and for the other part upon the displaceable transport roller 9, there might be a risk of the paper bagging through the large interval between these two rollers and of being consequently wrongly inserted. In order to prevent this, the invention provides for a support for the paper which bridges the said two rollers, for example in the manner shown in Fig. 9, in which an endless belt 72 moves over the roller 9 which may be correspondingly notched if desired, and over the auxiliary roller 73. If preferred, this support may be arranged upon stationary parts of the machine.

In order to effect an even more certain insertion of the paper, the arrangement according to Fig. 10 may be provided. Also in this case the roller 8 is journaled in the slide 18, but its axle pins are guided in slots 74. and are being pressed against the rear ends of said slots by means ofa spring 75.

When, in this construction, the slide 18 is withdrawn into the position according to Fig. 11 for the purpose of inserting the copying paper, the laterally projecting axle pin of the roller 8, after having passed through a certain distance, strikes a fixed stop 77 so that the roller8 is prevented to take part in the continued movement of the roller 9. In this way a gap is formed between the rollers 8 and 9, through which the now unwinding free end of the paper from the supply roll 2 is adapted to pass.

When now the slide 18 is returned into its original position, the roller v8 at first re mains stationary until the end of the slot 7 4: strikes against the axle pin 76 and simultaneously therewith the roller 9 against the lever 8. The rollers 8 and 9vnow already a clamp the paper web 1 which, by the unwinding movement of the supply roller has been previously inserted between the working rollers, transport rollers and the cutting knives, and thereby prevent the paper being blown out of the machine by a draft of air or some other cause. The invention may be applied to machines having any desired number of rollers, for example two or more.

In the construction of the copying machine according to Figs. 7v to 11, the main roller is transversely displaceable in a slide. This arrangement which is here being used for the first time and whose chief advantage lies in an easy mode of changingthe main roller without having to employ some auxiliary gear or a divided machine frame that would have to be opened out, requires according to the said figures a diversion from the hitherto most approved roller arrangement, 6. one in which three rollers are lying in three different planes, inasmuch as for the purpose of enabling a transverse displacement, two of the rollers are arranged .practically vertically one above the other.

According to the modification shown in Figs. 12 to 15 this drawback is. avoided in that the transversely displaceable main roller, in conformity with a characteristic of the machine shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is locked against undue lateral movement by means of auxiliary roller. second G m means and to so produce an opening for the displacement of the main roller.

Slide 18 and the rollers 5, 6 and 7 corre spond to the similarly named parts in Figs. 7 to 11. However, the main roller .6 is not directly supported by the said slide but is carried by a lever 100, which rotates on a pivot 300 of the slide 18 and which rests upon a pin 200 of the said slide. The shaft 81 of the roller 7 is rotatably mounted in a cheek 88 and a shield 12 is pivoted on said shaft and carries the journals for the roller 5. The said shield 12 together with the roller 5 is pressed against the roller 6 as by means of a spring 110 acting on an arm 82 of said shield.

Lever 100 is provided with a projection 83 against'which the tensioning lever 120 on being turned toward the right presses by means of a cam 130, thereby pressing the lever 100 and consequently the roller 6 into close contact with the rollers 5 and 7 shield ing to the leverage of the said cam 180.

Fig. 13 shows the position in which maximum pressure is applied.

However, when the lever 120 is turned from the mean position as illustrated in Fig. 12 toward the left, the main roller 6 will remain uninfiuenced in its deepest position shown in that figure. A second earn 140, which is also moved by the lever 12, encounters the nose 150 of the shield 12 and turns the latter, by simultaneously tensioning the spring 110, upwardly, until a rest in the said cam encounters a corresponding rest on the said nose 150, thus blocking the lever 120 and causing the respective parts to remain in the position of, Fig. 14, even after the said lever has been released. In this position, as will be seen from Fig. l5, the roller 6 with its slide 18 may be easily disconnected and removed, in order, for example, to free the same from any adhering paper, or for the purpose of changing the roller, or for any other purpose.

, In connection with the so far discussed machines it is absolutely to be preferred, or even necessary, that one of the cutting knives takes part in the displacement of the working rollers forthe purpose of introducing the copying paper, as otherwise thedesired ease of introduction might not be attainable on account of the great distance between the knives and the supply roll. Such local displacement of one of the knives is, however, very undesirable, since the mounting of these long cutting edges has to be exceptionally carefully devised, as otherwise the said knives would not be able to properly cut the wet tissue paper.

ihCCOlldlIlQ to a further improvement as illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19, this is remedied in that the supply roll is moved with the free end of the paper above the gap and between the ordinarily mounted cutting edges, that is to say, over the guiding device that feeds the paper between the said cutting edges. In this respect, the process will thus be the reverse to that taking place in connection with the aforesaid examples. Whereas in those machines a displaceable cutting blade is moved up to, or behind, the free end of paper issuing from the supply roll, the arrangement of this new modification isv such, that the bodily displaceable supply roller is moved toward the stationary cutting edges in such a manner, that the insertion of the copying paper between the said cutting edges may chiefly be attained by simply unwinding the paper from the supply roller.

The web of paper 1 in the arrangement according to Fig. 16 passes from the supply roll 2 over the wet roller 4 in the water tank 3, then between the working rollers 5, 6 and 7 the transport rollers 8, 9 and finally between the cutting edges 10 and 11. The bodily displaceable working rollers 5 and 7 are journaled in the levers 13 which are pivoted about their lower ends and which are arranged to also carry the wet roller supporting lever 15. That end of this lever which extends beyond its point of suspension formsnn abutment 71 which on the lever 13 swinging upward from the position of 16 into that of Fig. 17. strikes the fixed abutment 70, thereby causing the wet roller 4: to rise into itsuppermost position as shown in Fig. 17.

In this form of the invention the supply roller 2 is likewise journaled in the levers .13, so that on the said levers being tilted, it carries its paying-out side vertically above the transport rollers 8. 9 and the cutting knives 10 and 11, which may be arranger and actuated in the usual manner underneath the said transport rollers. When now the roll at paper is being unwound, the web oi paper will pass of itself between the rollers 8, and the cutting edges. 10 and 11. itter this the lever 13 is returned, whereupon the machine is ready for work without any further manipulations having to be carried out.

The modification shown in Figs. 18 and 19 differs from that just described mainly in that instead of iournaling the bodily moving parts in a tilting lever, they are carried by a slide 18. which also supports the sup.- ply roll. 2 and which, for the purpose of inserting the paper may be displaced from the position shown in Fig. 18 into that of Fig.

19. In this latter position the free end of the paper comes again vertically above the gap formed between the knives 10 and 11,

so that the insertion of the paper can be effected by simply rotating the roller. This having been done, the displacealole parts are returned into theiroriginal position and the machine is closed.

For the purpose of lifting the wet roller 4 an abutment strip is used in the same way as in the main construction of the machine.

It will be noted that it is not absolutely essential to have the supply roller supported by the supporting means for the other movable parts, nor is it necessary that its motion of displacement is coupled with that of the other parts. The displacement of the supply roller might, on the contrary, be effected by some individual kind of movement. It is further not necessary to have the paying out point of the supply roll exactly vertically above the gap between the cutting edges; it will moreover be sufficient, when the position of the supply roller is such, that the introduction of the web of paper between the said cutting edges can'be carried out without difiiculty and without having to take special precautions.

What I claim is 1 v Q r 1, A roller copying machine comprising in combination working rollers adapted to be separated the one fromthe other, tor the introduction between them of a web of paper supplied by a supply roller and a cutting device provided with cutters for cutting said web into separate sheets, some of said -members being movable relative to others in such a way, that the web may be introduced between said rollers and between said cutrollers, or to separate or to swing away any part of the main frame.

2. A roller copying machine comprising in combination working rollers adapted to be separated the one from the other for the introduction between them of a web of paper supplied by a supply roller and a cutting device provided with cutters for cutting aid web into separate sheets. some of said members being movable relative to others in such a way, that the free end of the web hangs above the slot Formed by the separation of the working rollers. v

3. A roller copying machine comprising in combination working rollers adapted to be separated the one from the other for the introduction between them oi a webot paper supplied by a supply roller and a cutting device provided with cutters for cut ting said web into separate sheets; some of said ,members being movable relative to others in such a way, that the free end of the webhangs between or'nearly between the two vertical planes passing through the ends of the slot formed by the separation of the working rollers. V

4:. A roller copying machine comprising in combination;working rollers adapted to be separated the one from the other for the insertion between them of a web of paper supplied by a supply roller and a cutting device for cutting said web into separate sheets, some of said members being movable relative to others, a movable member for carrying said movable parts and means to operate said movable member from Without.

5. in a roller copying machine the combination with a cutting device and a roller for supplying copying paper into the machine, of working rollers adapted to be mutually separated for the introduction between them of the said copying paper, a transport device consisting of rollers also adapted to be separated, and of a moistening device comprising a water tank and bodily displaceable rollers, all of said displaceable parts being adapted for operation from without by a single manipulation and without the operator having to put his hands between any of said working parts.

6. In a roller copying machine the combination with a roller for supplying copying paper into the machine of working rollers adapted to be mutually separated for the introduction between them of the said copying paper, a transport device consisting of rollers also adapted to be separated, and of a moistening device the parts of which are mutually separable, means to carry said movable parts and an operating lever to actuate said means from without thereby avoiding the necessity of the operator having to put his hand between the working parts of the machine.

7. In a roller copying machine a supply roller for supplying a web of copying paper, a number of working parts comprising a cutting device and means to support and guide said web of paper through the machine, means to move some of said working parts in relation to each other and to the said web of paper so that the latter hangs vertically above the gap formed by the movement of the said parts relative to each other and also above and between the knives of the said cutting device, means to support said movable parts and a handle to operate said means from without.

8, A roller copying machine comprising in combination working rollers. adapted to be separated the one from the other for the introduction between them of a web of paper supplied by a supply roller and a cutting device provided with cutters for cutting said web into separate sheets, some of said members being movable relative to others in such a way, that the free end of the Web hangs so as to allow of its free introduction into the gap between the movable and stationary parts and which is bounded in vertical succession by the working rollers, the transport rollers and the cutting edges.

9. In a mechanism for feeding a strip of material, the combination of means from which the free end of the strip depends in natural condition; a plurality of roller coupies for feeding said strip, said rollers being arranged so that the strip follows a tortuous course and the rollers of certain couples being movable relatively to the companion rollers of said couples; and means whereby the movable rollers are shiftable bodily from inoperative position to operative position with relation to said companion rollers to engage the depending free end of the strip and carry the same into operative position between the couples to as sume and travel said tortuous course.

10. In a mechanism for feeding a strip of material, the combination of means from which the free end of the strip depends in natural condition; a plurality of roller couples for feeding said strip, said rollers being arranged so that the strip follows a tortuous course and the rollers of certain couples being movable relatively to the companion rollers of said couples; means whereby the movable rollers are shiftable bodily from inoperativevposition to operative position with relation to said companion rollers to engage the depending free end of the strip and carry the same into operative position between the couples to assume and travel said tortuous course; and means for concomitantly shifting said movable rollers to operative position.

11. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of roller couples between which a web is fed in a tortuous path, certain of said rollers being movable; and means whereby the free end of the web is automatically threaded between roller couples by a movement of the movable rollers.

12. In a mechanism for feeding a strip of material, the combination of means on which the strip is supported and from which its-free end portion depends; a plurality of roller couples through which the strip is adapted to be fed in a tortuous path, the rollers of certain couples being movable relatively to the companion rollers of said couples; a fluid container; guiding means for directing the strip through said fluid container; and means for causing the free end portion of the strip to be shifted from its normal depending position to a position between the rollers into tortuous condition and for simultaneously causing the guiding means to direct the strip into the fluid container.

testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDMUND LICHTENSTEIN, 

